I received two gifts this week from sisters whom I only know via facebook from this page LDS Women for Faith and Family and Mormon Women: Who We Are both gifts making me cry and giving me a deeper impression and appreciation of the atonement as a convert to the church. I received  both the armor of God and the sword of truth as well as the iron rod. The love I have and the empowerment that has been given me by such unconditional love and servantude by these sisters are beyond words and emotions and can only be spoken among the language of angels. Thank you very much every day is a struggle when you have serious health problems, and disabilities and its moments like these that renew not my faith but gives me hope and a will to live another day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Seasons of love measuring life in a tangible way

For several years now the song "Seasons of Love" has been an important and thought provoking anthemn in my life, that has forced me to remember what is important to me; in doing so, these recollections have saved my life many times. The song gives many examples on how people measure their lives; and that is all they are, examples. We are on our own individual journeys and our life experiences are never completely the same as another, creating our own measurements of life. There is one key element though in measuring your life, and that is the ability to LOVE; for without love we miss the intended picture, or purpose of our journey. People love money, things, places, people, food, God, or a countless number of other miniscule things in life, and yet without learning to love oneself- everything else is just an empty shell of nothing with no substance. For when one loves themself, they  appreciate the wonderful gift and learning process that allows one to understand the good and bad for what they truly are- lifes building blocks and puzzle pieces in the intricate puzzle we call life.

No one will succeed 100% of the time in loving oneself, or realizing at a particular moment when life has down is only a temporary problem. It is in those times, one really needs to stop by taking a few minutes, or block of time, to find that self love that remains temporary hidden. One needs to change the current thought processes by forgiving those that need your forgiveness especially when you need to forgive yourself for being too hard on your personal expectations and give yourself permission to make mistakes because you are human; Making and learning from one's mistakes is what makes you perfect individual and a better person who should never be ashamed regardless what another may think. You answer to no one except for yourself and let them remain prisoners of their own faults.

When we can accept the fact that we can't change the last moment with their consequences, we can move forward and accept the current moment's lesson, using what we learn from past moments to move forward and love the new person that came out of the previous moments lesson. Love is the skeleton key of life that opens portals to exciting new worlds of strength, empowerment, self expression, and necessary life lessons whether wanted or not; but most importantly will open every possible connection on the levels of energy, spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, and even sexually between all people and situations that one comes into contact with. No one is limited to their dreams, and when one knows how to love themselves they can accomplish anything. Know how to love oneself in the good, the bad, the mistakes, and the

perceived failures for all things are what makes your life a special unique and rare treasure. Celebrate your life and celebrate you

Our freedom and mission

Happy Independence Day.  During the 4th of July Festivities over the next several days we have many opportunities to partake of a wide array of events with our family and friends, and even for quite a few our wards.  This is a time of remembrance of independence in our lives, and not necessary the signing as much in 2012. While the Declaration of Independence was pivotal and a turning point for this country, we celebrate today the continual freedom we have as a people of the United States, a place where all people should be treated equal despite our differences and ideologies and ill perceived self notions. The greatest freedom we have as Mormon women are that of what is actually the core of faith and that is that of freedom to choose a religion of our choice. As Latter-Day Saints we are blessed as members of the church as we have had the greatest gifts given to each and everyone as we hold onto our baptism and temple covenants.  As these covenants become instrumental and lay a foundation in our lives, our lives and actions become a living witness to the gospel, to life, to our families, those around us members and non members alike, Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, Jesus Christ, and most importantly to ourselves. While life brings trials these trials only help us overcome the adversary as well as life's natural problems, and trials of our own making through our actions and words to prepare us for Celestial Glory in the presence and congregation of the Church of the First Born. We hold a special heritage and by our covenants and adherence to our leaders counsel as the Spirit dictates upon our hearts is godly or not, we will be eternally blessed and examples to the world as non members are watching us and seeing if we live by what we believe or not.

We are part of the great work and the glory of Zion however as Saints we allow ourselves to become calloused and numb quite often to those who need our witness and light the most whether family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and often ourselves as we allow schedules, egos, hard hearts, or life circumstances to bring us down and we miss the bigger picture and the reason we are Saints, and temporal workers of the Kingdom in the work of Him who sent us.

In many wards, which suppose to serve as an external family and support system to its members, often leave new members and people in some area that did not grow up in your ward out in the dark, as the light is on yet no one is home.  As a convert to the church of 8 years this coming October and introduced to the church April 2004 I've witnessed this in all my wards except the current one I am in.  I joined in Escondido California and I am glad for I would have never joined in Utah as I feel, and I lived in Utah for 5 years after my conversion, that Utah Mormons for the majority are cliquish, self absorbed and don't go out of there way or make new members feel welcomed.  I was not born in the church and as a member due to the exact callousness and attitudes of members I tried leaving the church on several occasions however it was my Temple covenants, stronger than my baptism covenants, and my testimony of the healing powers, the sanctity, the love, life, and solace, gift of revelation, and many other special eternal and celestial gifts the temple offer, while know that those holy walls and the Saints who have passed through the veil is something greater than me and called me and brought me back each and every time. When I moved to San Francisco, and many wards have great members it was here that I felt welcomed in open arms and that I truly belong in this church.  It took 7 years to feel welcomed as a convert, while everyone through my membership loved my conversion testimony I never felt fully welcomed.  I buried myself in Sunday School teaching, serving two service missions, and any and all callings to feel welcomed to feel like I belonged but it wasn't the wards that kept me going or when i disappear and not come to church for weeks no one checked on me.  It took 7 years to have home teachers visit and check up on me, it took 7 years to have visiting teachers care.  And it was worth the wait, however no member whether born in the covenant or a convert especially a convert should ever have to feel that way.

Why remember our freedoms and independence, remember our heritage and struggles we faced as church coming across on the Mormon Trail to Utah.  We as a church, as Saints to share in the struggles still with one another as the church is a family and in the end after the endurance and holding fast to the iron rod we will be sealed together.  No one is greater than another, and it is our job as sisters in Zion to welcoming committee, as well as the member/convert retention committee.  We agree to give our time and Talents until the church so lets give our time to our families and those who need it because sometimes as Saints as a whole have only one chance and one chance only on this side of the veil for someone to surrender to the gospel and its teachings and taking the lessons followed by baptism.  Live and be a gift. Invite a non member to family gatherings, dinners, and just be yourself while your internal and external testimony becomes the missionary while you just allow the Spirit work on them through you and they will see your light and start asking questions themselves.

temple: being busy

In our busy lives we tend to forget what is truly important.  We have been commission in the Great work and the Glory of Heavenly Father to take upon us sacred callings, covenants, and commitments. We are called to love one another, love our family, serve on another and consecrate our time and talents for the kingdom building.  I encourage you to set aside some time this week  to go to the temple with your spouses and loved ones, take a time for reflection in the sacred house of God, remove yourself from the distractions of the temporal world. The mountain of the Lord awaits for all to rejoice in the work to be done within its walls.  There is no greater sacred calling than the work we do for our ancestors.  Every time you go to the temple with your spouse treat it as a renewal of you vows, and a mini honeymoon away from life's busyness.  If you have kids of age go to the temple as a family and do baptisms.

Marriage in the temple of love

Marriage in the Temple of Love is series of books on temple blessings I a writing and need to get back to writing

Preface

     There is the famous song “Going to the Chapel,” however I love changing that refrain to “going to the temple and we’re going to get married…. Married in the temple of love.

    

     When we go to temple, we do not go out of obligation or because it is expected of us to go, we go because of Love. In order to enter the temple, you must be found worthy to enter and that worthiness comes from a love of our Heavenly Father, the church, love of ourselves to uphold the teachings of the church, and a love of those who have passed beyond the veil. However, the love runs deeper and richer than that which can be imagine for the love shared between two people who take the most sacred commitment in life; eternal marriage in the temple cannot be described in mortal or temporal words. For when a couple is sealed in the temple, they create a bond  that by temporal means cannot be broken. Every time a couple returns together to the temple, they have the opportunity to renew their vows, celebrate their lives together, and build upon the foundation of their marriage fortifying themselves in the love that first brought them to be sealed.

    

     As Saints we are given the remarkable gift of not one, not two honeymoons in our lives, but a mini honeymoon every time we allow ourselves to fall in love with one another again and again within the walls of love. Husbands have an obligation to take their wives to the temple as often as possible in order to polish the jewel and treasure that has been entrusted to them for time and eternity. When you allow your lives to get too busy and chaotic to attend the temple then you make a subconscious statement to your marriage stating that you don’t need Heavenly Father’s fortifying and protection of the marriage. When you go to the temple as a couple, it’s the time and opportunity for the marriages maintenance check and tune up. When married in the temple we are married for TIME and Eternity.

May you be blessed and enriched in the Spirit of Love

Original Quote

Life is an amazing journey that is full of obstacles, twists and turns, and detours; However, it is through our journey on the unknown path that we find light, happiness, and blessings as we light the way with our Christian testimonies.  For its through the good and the bad, the rough and smooth sailing, peace and chaos that we grow as individuals an continuously grow as a person and receive the greatest treasure of all- the ability to be your own unique and individual as a child of God-  KGD Original Quote 3/10/12

Sitting On Top of the World

 Originally posted as a facebook Status Feb 2, 2012

I'm uncertain about finances as I said in my last post, however right now I am sitting on top of the world and temporally and spiritually blessed. My life is amazing and I just need to learn to clean the windows to see life and open the door more often for the fresh breath of air and the blessings and spirit to come in and bless my life and the life of others. I was under the weather and physically, mentall, and spiritually drained today and yet I was given a Heavenly lift when I needed it the most as I sit in and participate with the missionaries Elder and Sister Leavitt as the teach Moma Rose and Makeya the lessons as they prepare for baptism- the room is filled greatly. These two are such blessing in my life and moma rose and makeya are family out here and help me so much over the last year and half. I had the privilege and honor to be a servant to a few different friends today. I am on such a Spiritual high where I'm in between planes fully energized beyond belief. The veil is thin as always has been with me and I'm be blessed on both sides of the veil. I feel like I'm not me in my body but a strong light and energy source and I'm watching myself on the sidelines. I know I'm crazy lol however the way I fully feel is beyond words can describe on this temporal plane. For I have had many personal and out of body experiences in my life as my spirit travels to a spiritual plane where I've received personal revelation and walked the streets of heaven. For my life has always been spiritually unique but today is like no other I'm full of agape love, everlasting light, and I have been made into a pillar of strength. I can do all things in Christ. I blessed by this unexplainable blanket of the spirit. I know the path to Zion, I belong to a wonderful ward and stake, I'm blessed my by bishop, and bishopbric, the stake presidency and all the wonderful members of my ward, relief society, and the wonderful priesthood holders in my life who bless me continually by their faith love and compassion and willingness to serve. And major blessing in my life is Mitch Mayne whose faith, service, and willing to do what he knows is right- to serve the LGBT mormons and LGBT community and Bridge the gap between them and the church and this ally is proud to serve with him. Its wonderful to experience a more deeper connection with the spirit as I will be giving the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost at my friends baptism. My journey has been great as a minister at witness of the wonders of God and life. The temple and the covenants I made within are a beacon of light empowerment and everlasting love. I keep eyes and heart pointed as a compass to blessing and peace of the temple and wonders within as a chance to leave this temporal world if only for a moment and experience the blessing on both sides of the veil and all things can be fixed in the temple. The world is not my oyster its my gift as a witness to the work and the glory of the kingdom of heaven. Brian Beckstead thank you for the wonderful gift you gave to the world when you wrote the novel Stallion Warriors with love and testimony and witness God gives you in the healing of life from the hurt and anger in the original manuscript for that book was and is the pinnacle of hope love compassion and forgiveness and forever changed my life and those I have shared with and really brought eternal focus and perspective both temporally and spiritually in my life when it was needed most when I was lost in the darkness. For you Brian whether a member of the church or not are really a special guardian angel sent here for the purpose of showing us what true love and servantude. Mitch also is one of those special angels sent here to be themselves and touch the world undauntedly. I am a witness to the wonders and blessings of Gods love regardless what religion you belong to God love EVERYONE EQUALLY with an agape (unconditional) love. Whether you are gay or straight, or part of the large unbrella of labels LGBTHQQIAA (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender heteroflexible queer questioning intersex asexual ally). Which are only labels and does not matter to God because we are ALL people and his children. We chose the life we live before coming to this earth and Everyone is meant to love regardless gay or straight. I believe in human equality. I sustain my prophet and priesthood leaders I believe in the doctrine, covenants and principles that were the foundation of the church however I can't go blindly and follow all policys when it discriminates against my earthly and spiritual brothers and sisters for the bible says the greatest commandment and was given by Christ himself love the Lord thy God and love thy neighbor as theyself. I support HUMAN EQUALITY and I take a Stand as a Mormon woman against bullying and persecution of our brothers and sisters- I pray this church begins to reach out especially to our youth because too many precious souls that have so much potential and is our future is taking their lives because we persecute them as the mobs persecuted the saints in the beginning. I pray we take a stand and not be the cause of our own religious war and repeating history but this time against our own. How can we be a witness in the Work and the Glory when we deny Gods children Christs light as we push them away from us as if they were lepers. The LGBTHQQIAA community is made up of our children parents brothers and sister grandparents, and friends. I love writing especially when the spirit takes over on what was to be a simple post, a new blog is going up tonight ill provide the link when its done. The title is "The Road to Zion- My incredible journey and witness"

So I will try to keep these long posts to the blog especially since the spirit took over on my phone as I type this before getting my computer out. If you are friends family and collegues and whoever is on my facebook is a blessing in my life and everyone of you is a blessed and precious soul who is very valuable and regardless of religion or lack of Heavenly Father, our brother Jesus Christ, the souls that have passed through the veil and those yet to come to this temporal world love you and support you as the very person you are because again your precious life and journey was foreordain in the preexistance as you covented with your Father to live the life you choose for you in love, respect, compassion, and equality. The plan of life of happiness was not to hate or exclude, be prejudice and in doing so closes the windows of blessings from heaven and you can not trully be a full witness of the Savior until you follow his example of love compassion and equality of all people. I close with this as tears fill my eyes as I've been blessed and honoured with the privilege that the Spirit allow me to share my heart with you-- live true to yourself, celebrate life, and be a beacon of strength light and love to all people, for we are hands arms bodies of Christ leave anger behind you show love, because even one person can change the world one person at a time, where we have the potential to light the world as you help relight others flames in and outside the church. I testify as a special witness of the agape love that our Savior and Heavenly Father have for everyone of children, I testify that when first take care of ourselves at the homefront first, we have know need to worry about others and how you think they should live. I have a testimony that the plan of Happiness includes human equality, I witness to you in love for everyone, and I know the scriptures are true road maps of the Saviors love to guide you in your personal journey and agency. I testify that all and any love between people is the most sacred gift of all is meant to be shared with all people as a gift to one another and to Heavenly Father both temporally and spiritually for intimate, physical, and spiritual love is meant for ALL. I humbly say these things in the name of the beloved Savior Jesus Christ.

I am an open book if anyone has questions for me about my life church or anything just ask and I will answer truthfully.